Belmont Hosts 68th Annual Meeting of the American Scientific Affiliation

Largest meeting of Christians in the sciences comes to Nashville in July

The American Scientific Affiliation’s 68^th Annual Meeting will take place July 19-22 at Belmont University as some 250 scientists and academics advance the conversation about faith and science. This year’s theme is “In God’s Image: Celebrating Creativity in Science and Invention” based on Psalm 8:6, “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.”

American Scientific Affiliation Executive Director Randall D. Isaac said, “Our meeting enables Christians in the sciences to meet and support each other. As Christians with a vocation in the sciences, we seek to bring a Christian perspective to our work. As scientists with a commitment to Christ, we seek to understand how a study of God’s creation strengthens our Christian faith. Personal interaction is a vital part of that community of support. We share our insights and experiences to encourage each other in the faith.”

Plenary speakers are Belmont Director of Entrepreneurship Jeff Cornwall, Princeton University Chemistry Professor Andy Bocarsly, U.S. Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Research Division Director Jim Van Dam, University of Illinois College of Engineering Associate Dean for Administration Bruce A. Vojak and Rutgers University Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Mary Wagner.

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SouthEast Bank Awards Scholarship to Belmont Business Students

Belmont University and SouthEast Bank announce the formation of a new scholarship to award $28,000 over four years to an incoming business student. The reoccurring scholarship will be awarded biennially to a new student.

SouthEast Bank Scholarship Director Tommy Schumpert said, “SouthEast Bank is proud to support Belmont University in awarding scholarships to promising Tennessee students. Because we are operated by local employees who live and work alongside the people we serve, SouthEast Bank is a true community bank that uses our resources to reinvest in our schools, organizations, and neighborhoods. Through the SouthEast Bank Scholars program, we fulfill this mission by rewarding outstanding students who demonstrate a combination of academic excellence, community service, and financial need with the opportunity to reach their greatest potential through higher education.”

The first SouthEast Bank Scholarship will be given in August to a student from Tennessee studying finance, accounting or banking with at least a 3.25 high school grade point average and 23 ACT score as well as the financial need and evidence of community involvement.

“The creation of the SouthEast Bank scholarship will assist our highly talented and skillful finance and accounting students in achieving their dreams of a Belmont education.  SouthEast Bank’s generosity reflects their high regard for education and dedication to ensuring a well-prepared workforce through our students”  said Charles Harper, Belmont’s director of financial aid and associate director of student financial services.

Ranked No. 7 in the Regional Universities South category and named for the fifth consecutive year as one of the top “Up-and-Comer” universities by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University consists of approximately 6,650 students who come from every state and 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The university’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs, a fact made evident in the University’s hometown, Nashville, where students served more than 60,000 hours of community service (valued at $450,000) during the last academic year. Belmont is also home to the World Cup champion Enactus team, a group of 42 student leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. With more than 80 areas of study, 23 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual’s horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

Belmont University Holds Spring Commencement Ceremonies May 4

Degrees conferred during two ceremonies Saturday

Belmont University will hold its spring 2013 commencement ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students on Saturday, May 4 in the Curb Event Center.

For the third consecutive year, the University will have two ceremonies on the same day. At 9:30 a.m. candidates from the College of Business Administration, Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and College of Visual and Performing Arts will have their degrees conferred. At 2:30 p.m. candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences, Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing, College of Pharmacy, University College and Interdisciplinary Programs and School of Religion will have their degrees conferred.

Belmont celebrates the graduation of a total of 955 students. During the graduation ceremonies, 765 undergraduate, 105 master’s and 85 doctoral degrees will be conferred.

Tickets, which have been distributed to the graduating students, will be required for guests wishing to attend either event.

Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, will preside over the events and present the commencement address at both ceremonies. In addition, the Office of Alumni Relations will sponsor receptions–one at 7:30 a.m. prior to the morning commencement and another immediately following the 2:30 p.m. ceremony–for all graduates and their families in the Beaman Student Life Center.

Baccalaureate will take place at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 in the Curb Event Center.

 **Updated May 6, 2013: Online video streams of the May4 graduation ceremonies are now available for viewing here.

McAfee Concert Hall, Baskin Center Earn National Recognition

The architect behind the renovation of Belmont’s McAfee Concert Hall, Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. (ESa), recently received a Citation of Excellence Award for outstanding educational facility design in the Spring 2013 edition of Learning By Design, the premier biannual guide that showcases innovative school and university design projects. Recognized for the renovation and adaptive reuse of McAfee Concert Hall, ESa is one of only seven firms in the country to receive a Citation of Excellence Award in the Spring 2013 design competition.

ESa repurposed the aging church sanctuary into a contemporary music hall that serves both the campus and the surrounding community. Unique details were preserved, while nearly doubling the volume by utilizing previously unused attic and floor space. “I imagine this is a great place to see a concert,” commented a Learning By Design judge.

In addition, Belmont’s Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, which was also designed by ESa, received an Honorable Mention Award. ESa is one of only three firms in the country to receive this award.

Learning By Design is published twice annually by Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc., with support from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), APPA—Leadership in Educational Facilities, Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), National School Boards Association (NCBA), and others.

ESa is a 52-year-old architectural firm based in Nashville providing services in architecture, interior architecture, master planning and space planning to clients across the country and globally.

Memorial Foundation Awards Belmont $300,000 for Simulation Fellowship, Upgrades

The high-fidelity simulation equipment is housed in the Inman Health Sciences Building.

The Memorial Foundation has awarded Belmont University $300,000 to upgrade high-fidelity simulation equipment, support interprofessional training in the College of Health Sciences & Nursing  and fund a post-graduate Healthcare Simulation Fellowship. Belmont has appointed Dr. Gwenn Randall as the college’s first fellow.

“We are grateful to the Memorial Foundation for this generous gift that will enable us to markedly increase the impact of our clinical simulation program. In addition to creating exciting new clinical experiences for both students and community providers, with this funding we will create new ways of educating future leaders in this emerging field,” said College of Health Sciences & Nursing Dean Cathy R. Taylor.

The University’s advanced patient simulators allow students to experience the health care profession’s daily challenges in a controlled environment. Computerized mannequins exhibit real patient symptoms and respond accordingly to treatment provided by caregivers, based on programmed scenarios. The use of simulation allows individuals preparing for health care professions to practice treatments and learn technique through simulation before treating actual patients. The University used a portion of the Memorial Foundation grant to purchase a highly specialized obstetrical mannequin that will be used to train nursing students and community partners to respond to high risk obstetric emergencies.

“A program in health care professional training in simulation meets a need in the industry, appeals to professionals who want a unique and growing career and is attractive to teaching institutions who want to become involved or expand simulation,” said Dr. Beth Hallmark, director of simulation. (more…)